what is the optimum control PC for a shopbot? love to hear from the tech dept!!

[Brett1970]

I'd really like to know what is the absolute, ultimate, be all, end all of pc's to control a shopbot? I'd like to know:

Pentium or AMD?
processor specifications.. how many cores and how fast?
Ram.. type of ram and how much..
motherboard.. what's the best one, what chipset?
Hard drive? I assume solid state, they rock.
Usb 3.0?
Usb hub.... why first and foremost, and if necessary, powered or non powered? has anyone tried this?

what operating system? which service packs?
what is the optimum settings? I run black viper bare bones..

Honestly, please join in on this discussion! As a community, we should be able to figure out a reliable control method for our machines. I've dealt with com issues for the last 6-7 years, since I bought this thing.

If I get what Shopbot thinks is the ultimate pc setup and I still have issues, then I know I need to chase something else.

I have a PRS standard 96X48, 2008 model, updated control card, and yaskawa spindle. Lets get all the pc issues so many of us have solved!

[markevans]

I am trying to think how I can respond without sounding like a dick..... The shopbot controllers are not PC data extensive, anything bought as a Windows PC in the last 6 or 7 years should be okay. I use a cheap tablet. Just turn off any WiFi, so incoming or outgoing traffic doesn't clog stuff up.
Do you have another cheap laptop or such other than the one you usually use? If so, install the control SW and see if you have the same problems. If you do, it is on the SB side.

[Ernie Balch]

I bought my PRS Alpha in 2009. it had com problems and the prox switches always threw limit errors. I disabled them just so I could run the machine. I always blamed my PC for the com errors. I bought a series of different ones and never solved the problem. Finally in 2013 I heard of the SB controller upgrade that got rid of the serial to usb converter. $300 later the problem was solved even the prox switches behave now. I think it was always the aftermarket usb converter cable supplied with the SB.

[adrianm]

There are loads and loads and loads of threads on this subject. They rarely come to a concrete conclusion.

Some people swear that you must turn loads of things off in Windows (blackviper settings) whereas others just disable the screen saver and updates only. Some say you need a quad core PC whereas others say a 10 year old PC works best. It goes on and on.

I've had several PC's including Dells (european models) which most people say are useless and the only comms problems I've ever had are when I didn't have the machine grounded properly or when I pulled out a USB device without ejecting it first. I've used Windows XP, Vista and 7. All I do is disable the screen saver and automatic updates.

[srwtlc]

ShopBot computer requirements (http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/computerRequirements.htm)

Other than that, it comes down to USB and environment variables (grounding, electrical noise from external sources). If you are using version 3.6.XX, a hub (powered or not) or a separate PCI USB card may be needed. With version 3.8.XX, a hub is generally not needed and may make it worse.

[ron_moorehead]

In reading the forum, looks like ShopBot is working on a solution that would eliminate the USB interface and the need to have the computer connected full time to the controller, in reading about it you should bale able to interface with it by Ethernet, or wifi.

See more about it at: http://gofabmo.org/ I know they talk about the Handibot but I understand they are working on it to interface with the full size ShopBots.

[Davo]

I turn nothing off, obviously my surface 3 is pretty speedy and solid memory so I guess that helps

I even sometimes tab over to aspire and mess around while it cuts, it does not usually force me back on the stop button for a bit

I've never had any of the issues everyone complains about, except for needing to mess with the keyboard refresh

[ron_moorehead]

I was looking at the specs on the Surface 3, it looks like it has a USB 3.0 port. My understanding is the ShopBot interface card does not like USB 3. I am glad yours is working fine for you.

[Davo]

I ran a laptop that had USB 3.0 prior to the surface maybe the issues are with the user and not the USB connection

I go against the grain and leave every process running virus software firewalls and all I used to work for Dell as a level two support tech, so most of the time I just do my own thing based on my knowledge, I like the idea that if something works don't change anything and if it was working prior, what did the user change.